Watchcase and process of making same



1927. May e. 'r. BATES WATCHCASE AND f'ROCE-SS OF MAKING SAME lllllllllllllllll Fil ed Get. 8, 1926 Patented May 10, 1927.

'EJNI'TED STATES PATENT @FFlCE.

GEORGE T. BATES, or ELGI'N, rumors, ASSIGNOR ro trimmers we'rcn CASE COM-- PANY, F mom, rumors, A oonroimrron or 11.1.11. ors.

WATCHCASE AND 'EROCESS OF MAKING SAME.

Application filed October 8, 1926.

ran-

.1 his invention relates to the manufacture of a watch case of the bracelet type adapted to be secured in place by flexible means extendiiur around the wrist. pin or 'lnir which is extended between it pair of lugs on ouch end oi the case "is connnonly used "for the attachment thereto of such flexible mehususually :1 strap or bracelet. (lonsiderable trouble has been experienced in providing lugs for this purpose, due to diiliculties in handling and holding the lugs in place prior to aiuldi1ring a soldering; oper- "in which must be performed. It is an object of this invention to siinplity the more utncture of this type of case by certain improreinen "s directed to the lugs, to the meai'is by which they are held in place, and to the method by which the operation of securing the lugs is carried out.

in illustrative embodiment of my invention is set forth in the accompanying drawi'i'w n the manner following:

I uro 1 21 plan View of blank from h may be formed a bezel or back having chz-zracteristics hereinafter disclosed;

' 2 i; u perspective View of a bezel formed from u blank such as is shown in Fin". 1;

Fig. 3 which a fragmentary riew in elevation of the bezel with lugs applied ther to shows one end of a wrist strap hav ing: connection with a pin which is extended between one nair ot lugs, and

Fig. l is a fragmentary detail in perspective showing: one of the lugs secured to the case.

I would have it understood that the improvements her fl set forth are applicable to :i watch case of the bracelet type having 'uggs carried by the case center or movement to. by the bezel, or by the case back. For tnufposcn; of convenience. the drawing. as well as the description to follow is concerned with my improved lug construction in relation. to a bezel. The same construction might be used with equal advantage where the lugs are fastened to the case center or to the ijitillii which is associated the; with.

The bezel 5 which is shown in Fig. 2 may be of any desired contour. It provided with marginal flanges 6 wherein are formed. a pair of slits 7 at each end oi the bezel. Between these slits and the proximate corners is a short section of the flange with which is associated a clip 8 joined to the Serial No. 140.348.

bezel and extending oulwniwlly llcurved formation. The extremity clip may lie in approx niutely il.i smile plane as the flange edp'es.

A bezel of this general d ci-wripiiosi n be conveniently termed from u. blenl: s1.

us is shown in Fig. l. i he )a as eppcgu'inzr r. bezel in the blank which correspon shown in Fin. 2 bear numerals, the lines ofbend bei g in by dotted lines. A sheet metal blunt: or this character nniy be produced cmirenienily by 2'1 single die operation. and by a ecoinl die operation may be drawn to the form oi Fig. 2.

Having progressed to this point, lugs l; are then places. in the clips 8 which provide seats therefor. As shown best in 4i, each lug may be of such form as to fit within the space between tne clip and the murginal flange 6. il hen so positioned, the lug; is secured permanently to the bezel as by a soldering operation. It is of great o tage to pro ide a seat of the kind so that the lug may be located accurately and held fixedly for the soldering operation. Each lug may also be provided with a transverse hole 10 to receive one end of a pin 11 to which is secured a strap or bracelet 12 in. the customary manner.

I would have it noted that the present lug construction and the method of its attachment to the bezel is applicable to vary- .ing widely in design. The embodiment of the invention herein shown and described is illustrative only. The lugs may also of any desired form an irregular shape being suggested in the drnwin Regardless of their shape, the lugs may belnindled and located with precision much more easily on account of the seats which provided for their reception at the time the soldering operation is perforn'ied. The clips which form the lug seats may, of course, be variously formed according to the design or shape of the lugs which are desired, it being merely necessary that the bear a proper relation to the lugs to ensure reterr tion of the latter.

By proceeding with the niai'rufncture of a case according to the in'iprovements her 1 outlined, it is possible to eliminate several costly operations particularly such as necessary with gold-filled lugs. possible because I overcome much of the claim:

1. AS :1 new article of manufacture, it SllQLl met 1. Watch nee having; integral clips extended outwardly from its end eneh (-11 operating: with the raise to provide :1 sent. and lll iir; titted within t-ittfl neat and set-tired both to the ease and to the tlSSOt'lnttll z-li'p, :illlJSltlTltitlllV 21s deerribed A it new uri'iele ot' nizn'inl'iletnre. :1 sheet metal wuteh raise against the oppo.-;te ends (it \"a'hieh zire plaeed lugs indepeinlentl .tbrined means for centering each lug in a pi'edeterininml position against the ease end, said means eolnprisin n rlip integral with the ease and extended therefrom in :1 manner to form. with the case. It sent win-rein the lee/7,765

and a solder and its seat,

consublug may be fixedly held, neotion between the lug stantiall r 11S described.

A. watch ease inning one component termed with marginal thing es and with integral elips; extended outwardly beyond the flanges at opposite ends; of the case to cooperate therewith in providing seats, and :1 lug fitted Within each seat and FOlClGI'Qfl thereto, substantially as described.

4;. The proeesn o'l forming a bracelet watch nee which consists in drawing; the side edges 0t :1 sheet metal blank to provide nmrginul flanges and also elipe outwardly of the ildllfltfh ntoppoeite ends of the ease, in positioning between each clip and the proximate flange :1 lug which is shaped to tit within the seat so provided, and finally in solderiin the in; so positioned both to the clip and to the ease, substantially as described.

t-lEORG E 'l. B ATES. 

